(CNN) – Republicans were slower than usual to respond to the better than expected January jobs report Friday, which showed the unemployment rate fell to 8.3% and employers added 243,000 jobs.

However, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was the first high profile GOPer to react, saying the "welcome news" is too little for most Americans.Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

"Our economy remains unacceptably weak, and families across the country are still struggling to make ends meet," Priebus said in a statement. "Today's unemployment numbers remind us that our economy is far from fixed. That, by the president's own standard, should make him a one-term president."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the first 2012 presidential candidate to respond to the figures and did not miss the opportunity criticize President Barack Obama's handling of the economy.

"Unfortunately, these numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery. We can do better," Romney said in a press release. "I am running for president because I have the vision and experience to help rebuild the economy and put us on a path toward greater prosperity for all Americans."

Former Pennsylvania Sen. and current White House hopeful Rick Santorum said he is encouraged that people are returning to work, but said he is concerned about people abandoning the workforce and the impact the current health care law, dubbed "Obamacare" by Republicans, might have on jobs in the future.

"We're not going to see unemployment go down substantially in the future unless we turn this economy around and get it growing again," Santorum said Friday during a visit to the Mark Twain Dinette in Hannibal, Missouri.

Priebus–then pass the Obama Job act! Not sure that Romney has the ability to create jobs. He has shown the ability to fire people and streamline...but that does not mean more people are hired in the end.

February 3, 2012 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

GI Joe

It sure as heck is a lot better than W losing 750,000 per month for months and months and months BEFORE the housing bubble popped.

February 3, 2012 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Andrew

"I am running for president because I have the vision and experience to help rebuild the economy and put us on a path toward greater prosperity for all Americans."

___

How is lower unemployment not a path to better prosperity? I love how their message changes each time good news comes out. The GOP was banking on the economy staying in the tank, but they are panicing as news starts to get more positive.

February 3, 2012 10:47 am at 10:47 am |

A Repulbican

I think not issuing a press release is better than not praising the fact that 230,000 americans got jobs in one month! It's wrong to issue these statements but just reinforces their main message that they just don't like Obama and would nominate Hitler if he could beat Obama.

February 3, 2012 10:50 am at 10:50 am |

Rudy NYC

The numbers might be less than what most Americans would like to see, but they the do represent growth. Unfortunately, all of the growth for the past 9 months has been in the private sector. The public sector has seen consecutive jobs losses over the same period. Most of these losses have been teachers, policemen, firemen, and sanitation workers across the country as Republicans have waged their war against middle class union workers.

February 3, 2012 10:51 am at 10:51 am |

once upon a horse

every silver lining has a cloud right Priebus? And Mitt needs to look at the consecutive months of job growth before he shoots of his mouth. Even HE admitted a week ago that the economy was doing better. Opps..he may have misspoke on that too.

February 3, 2012 10:51 am at 10:51 am |

Sage Sophos

I can't agree with you more Mr. "Reince Priebus was the first high profile GOPer to react, saying the "welcome news" is too little for most Americans." ITS TOO LITTLE BEARING IN MIND THAT, THE DEPTH OF THE ECONOMIC MESS THE REPUBLICAN LEFT FOR THIS PRESIDENT TO CLEAN WE HAVE MOVED FROM 9.2 TO 8.3 COUPLE OF MONTHS IT WILL BE 7.5 AND BEFORE YOU SAY MITTS, NEWTS THE UN-EMPLOYMENT WILL BE NON-EXISTENCE!! AS LONG AS THE MANUFACTURING KEEPS ON GROWING STRONG

February 3, 2012 10:52 am at 10:52 am |

Straight Shooter

What they should have said was that their plan to try and block any job creation appears to be failing, and that things could be much better if they would help or had a plan. They offer no ideas to create jobs, they just say Obama's plans aren't working.

February 3, 2012 10:53 am at 10:53 am |

Save the Rich, Vote GOP

Blah Blah Blah, I'm running because I have a vision where the Rich can get richer and the poor get self deport, I mean the middle class, no no the illegals. That's it, the illegals can self deport and the poor and middle class can go to hell. Sorry about misspeaking there for a second.

February 3, 2012 10:54 am at 10:54 am |

Patriot Awesome

I'm actually surprised that the House Republicans aren't trying to take credit for the drop in unemployment. Didn't they run on jobs? I've never seen a group of United States representatives so unpatriotic that they actually hate it when the U.S. does well. Or are they confusing the country doing well with Obama doing well?

February 3, 2012 10:55 am at 10:55 am |

Ray

Chuckle...typical. I do notice that Romney has gone from "made the economy worse" to "prevented a true economic recovery". Even that one will be hard to say with a straight face by November.

February 3, 2012 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

kenny

If the American economy had turned around to the point that every man, woman and child in the country was working and making $4,000.00 a week, some idiot Republican would say something like, " despite the failures of our President the economy fought hard against his effort to crash it again and managed to do better". Another Republican idiot might say something like, "Unfortunately, these numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery. We can do better". In fact, if Republicans knew the brand of toilet tissue used by the President, they would complain about the high dollar expenditures of this President for toilet tissue.

February 3, 2012 10:59 am at 10:59 am |

Blindersoff

Lie in the face of the truth . . . Take a good look america, I give you the republican leadership of denial. Priebus and Butthead Romney. It is to laugh!

February 3, 2012 10:59 am at 10:59 am |

Killdeer

Well Mittens...tell us what your "vision" is and let us judge...oh that's right, your "vision" is just one more talking point with nothing to back it up as is all that the republicans offer up anyway.

February 3, 2012 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

Willie Floyd

Exactly the response we would expect from both of them. Totally worthless.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

February 3, 2012 11:04 am at 11:04 am |

sonny chapman

And that vision is..."Lower taxes & deregulation". That should bring back the Bush Economy. Didn't the Clinton Economy work for more people than at any time in the Economic History of America ? Record growth, record jobs, record low inflation ? Was your 401-k better in the 1990's or in the Lost Decade of 2000 ?

February 3, 2012 11:05 am at 11:05 am |

Biggge

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was the first high profile GOPer to react, saying the "welcome news" is too little for most Americans.

Does he mean by most Americans the poor, Is the the same group Romney states he not worried about...U GOPer's stay with the Glum and Doom... It is still 243,000 jobs, slowly but surely people are finding jobs again....Keep working Mr. President.. Obama 2012...

February 3, 2012 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

Maxx

No Idea Whatsoever

Romney has no idea whatsoever of what is meant by being 'poor'. The word poor is NOT a part of his vocabulary since it demeans his aristocracy and wealth. He obviously, as he clearly articulate, is NOT concerned about the poor. For Mitt, the poor could die...they are NOT on his presidential priority list...he is NOT and will NEVER fight for their cause.

Does Romney realize that the middle class is being converted to the lower (poor) class? He did not misspoke in anyway, this is a willful statement which reflects how out-of-touch Romney is with the middle and poor class.

There's NO reason why we should seek to elect Romney as president. see?...he has NO idea of what the poor is experiencing at this time.

February 3, 2012 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

The Real Tom Paine

A weak economy is created by uncertainty, and the GOP has done everything in their power to make sure we have uncertainty. Its good that the clock is running out on them.

February 3, 2012 11:10 am at 11:10 am |

Bill, NY

The current president could turn water to wine and they would say its not cognac, he could turn lead to gold and they would say its not platinum. The only thing they want from him is that he goes away. The republicans are elitist racists to the core. They obstruct him at every turn and blame him for the results of their obstruction. I'm sure some will come back with that lame comment about being called racist just because you may disagree with him, but this goes way beyond just disareeing with the president. The lack of respect shown him is nothing short of appalling. Could you imagine someone shouting to Bush "YOU LIE". The republicans would have called for charges of treason. If the shoe fits you know where you can shove it!

February 3, 2012 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

And the GOP obstructionists say, "Who do you believe, my talking points or your lying eyes?"

February 3, 2012 11:12 am at 11:12 am |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Name one(1) Republican in Washington whose lifted a finger to help the American people on jobs. These people were sent to Washington on a platform to work for the taxpayers and not just to collect checks funded by taxpayers while enriching themselves.